A Pileated Woodpecker of The Vermilon River.

 I wasn't going to post this week except I got some great shots of this fellow, who virtually landed in front of me. He was so close that I got no full body shots. I didn't dare reset the lens because photos of these pileateds are hard to come by. You can check out Cornell for more facts, but these fellows are about the size of a crow so you can realize how striking they are. This is a male as evident from his mustache. I'll leave you to watch the slide show by clicking on the photos.

A post to: I'd Rather be Birding; Our World Tuesday, and WBW.

I realized that I didn't mention, and needed to incorporate Bobbi into my post. He is fast becoming a character in his own right. If I didn't get to visit your blog its because of time constraints.

Some Spring At Long Last At The Vermilon River!!

Poor Pity The Purple Finch

 This photo is here only to give you some idea of the long stormy winter that we experienced. It was early, and I think, is the first of the global warming winters. Global warming doesn't mean warm! It means wet air that creates storms, and consistently changing conditions -rain, freezing rain snow, and most of all ice from the changing temperatures. That is exactly what we had. Spring is just starting this week, but our western provinces have just had more snow. The winter weather, read ice, certainly inhibited me.

 So we turned to some different things. I live in a senors's residence as you know. It is an independent living apartment building, but poor, grey weather plays havoc with seniors. So we set up events in our common room. I'll tell you more about those later.

 The photos are all from initial hikes. Remember click the photos and watch the slide show. At the right a Chipping Sparrow. Posted to: I'd Rather Be Birding,Our World Tuesday and WBW.

 Ring-billed Gull in flight.

Wood Duck

 The first of the warbler migrants-Yellow Rumped Warbler.

Northern Flicker Male

Raven in flight

Sun over the Ridge

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Adult male Yellow Rump

Chickadee entering his nest

Male Yellow-Rumped

Male Northern Flicker

Yellow-Rump

 Likely a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet with an interesting head flash.

A most welcome song sparrow.

White water

Wood Duck in Flight

Male Yellow-Rump

River

Female Yellow- Rump

Male Purple Finch

Song Sparrow

Northern Flicker

Song Sparrow

Yellow Rump

Song Sparrow singing.

Same

Yellow Rump

Yellow Rump

Yellow Rump in Flight

Yellow Rump in Flight

Very small glaciet

So bright on a dull day

Interesting flash on a yellow Rump, more likely a Ruby-crowned Kinglet?

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

More white water.